God has a special place in His heart for the poor. He identifies with them.
James 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
1 Corinthians 1:26-28 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty, and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are.
There is a blessing upon those who help the poor.
Psalm 41:1-3 Blessed is he that considereth the poor the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.
Acts 10:1-4 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band. A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it Lord? And he said unto him. Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
Proverbs 19:17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.(You cannot out give God. He will not be beholden to any man).
There is a curse upon those who shun the poor.
Proverbs 21:13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the city of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
Luke 16:19-25 There was a certain rich man which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and faired sumptuously every day. And there was a certain beggar name Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores. And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom; the rich man also died, and was buried. And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son remember that thou in thy lifetime receiveth thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things, but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
The responsibility to care for the poor is with us not with God.
Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
James 2:14-17 What doth it profit my brethren, though a man say he hath faith and have not works? Can faith save Him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food. And one of you say unto them, depart in peace be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are neeful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Ezekiel 16:49-50 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me therefore I took them away as I saw good.
Caring for the poor is a commandment.
Deuteronomy 15:5-8,11 Only if thou carefully hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all these commandments which I command thee this day. For the LORD thy God blesseth thee as he promised thee and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow, and thou shalt reign over many nations, but the shall not reign over thee. If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother; But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need in that which he wanteth. For the poor shall never cease out of the land; therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shall open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.
God gives us riches so we can bless others, not just for ourselves.
Matthew 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth, nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through; nor steal; For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Matthew 19:16-21 And behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good, there is none good but one, that is God; but if thou will enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him. Which? Jesus said, Thou shall do no murder. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honor thy father and thy mother; and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up; what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou will be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor and thou shall have treasure in heaven; and come and follow me.
Luke 14:12-14 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbors, lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind; And thou shalt be blessed, for they cannot recompense thee, for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
How much do we give?
Luke 3:9-11 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.
Mark 12:41-44 And Jesus sat over against the treasury and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury; For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly, and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity for God loveth a cheerful giver.
We will always have opportunity to bless the poor.
Matthew 26:11 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.
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